Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-26
BUSINESS AND RELIGION.

Why They Should BE One and the Same
-"Shouid We Not DO as Much for Souls
rs for Doilars:'
The idea that religion is one thing
and business another degrades bust
ness and dishonors religion. The
worldly man. unwilling to bring his
business up to the standard of Chris
tianity. says: Religion is speculative
rather than practical. 1t does well
enough as food for Imagination and
Sunday musings, but is not sufficient
To sustain Il man at so great a height
amid the stern realities of practical
life. could not be a Christian and
follow my business
Many protesting Christians seem to
have the idea that their religion, like
their best clothes, is to be worn only
on Sunday and in society of the saints,
then carefully put aside. that it may
not be defiled by contact with
the Gentiles in the market-place.
Here they must not assume
to be better than other men, They
must be practical. However perfect
and pure the Sunday robe, they must
appear in moral tatters and filth on
Monday; for business is business. :"
All this is out of harmony with the
practice and teaching of the great head
of the church. He was the carpenter.
and the Messiah. His preaching was
practical. Hence 1.-THE common people
heard him gladly" He found business
and religion widely separated. and
united them. What God had Joined
together, let not man put asunder. "
His apostles were chosen-not from the
doctors of law. but from the fishermen
and tax-gatherers-the business men.
The great apostle to the Gentiles al
ternated preaching with tent-making.
and wrote to the Romans: "Bc not
slothful in business; fervent in spirit;
serving the Lord" Be religious in
your business, and make business of
your religion.
Any business which will not harmon
ize with religious life is dangerous
business. 1t leads to moral if not
financial ruin But if mans business
is legitimate. religion will help him to
resist dishonest methods and secure
public confidence. 1t will make him
conscientious in the use of time and
opportunity 1t will summon into
activity every dormant faculty of his
being. and nightly aid him to noble
achievement Many of the merchant
princes of our great cities are as emil
nent for their piety as for their wealth,
and acknowledge that they owe their
success in business 10 the associations,
industry and integrity which religion
brought to them. Every interest of
the home, of secular duty, of social
and political life. may be glori-
fled by applied Christianity. Men
say we must not put politics
into religion. 1t is at least be-
coming very evident that we must put
more religion in our politics. or we are
doomed. A religion which does not
control the actions of the citizens as
well as the worshipers. is not the re-
ligion of Jesus of Nazareth. Genuine
Christianity will 60 with man to the
ballot-box as well as to the prayer
meeting; to the shop or the store as
we'll as to the sanctuary.
There is also great need of business
methods in all our religious work. Our
church work will not succeed as it
should until we make it part of our
business. and put into it the same sys-
TEN. tact energy and thoroughness
that we employ in our secular affairs.
The church suffers greatly from the
slipshod work of officials who in their
private business are systematic and
thorough. This is not right The
Master can not pronounce it .'well
done" A Christian man should ac-
cept church office as a sacred
charge, and perform every duty con-
nected with it as promptly and thor.
Oughly as he provides for the wants
of his own family. We should also be
rs regular in our attendance upon the
means OF grace as in going to our place
of business. If the merchant went to
his store only when the weather was
not too hot or too cold, too rainy or
too windy; only when he was not too
tired or too sleepy, too lazy or too any
thing. his business would soon be
closed out The church is composed